Lufita Utd chopped out of SIMSO Premier League

A SIMSO Premier League side, Lufita United, has been chopped out of the 2019 championship by the Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) for failing to honour three consecutive fixtures.

In a communiqué issued by NRFA’s Fixtures Secretary, Ollens Msonda, and seen by Nyasa Times, NRFA indicates that the team has voluntarily withdrawn from league by violating Article 4.8 of the rules and regulations governing the management of the league.

Msonda highlights that the article states that: “if a team fails to fulfil three (3) straight away fixtures, will be deemed to have withdrawn from the competition”.

Quizzed on why he thinks Lufita United has sunk into troubled waters this way, General Secretary for NRFA, Masiya Nyasulu, said this is a serious problem that they encounter almost every season because most of the teams are run by individuals and their finances are sometimes blown up along the way before the season comes to an end.

“We will communicate to Lufita officially so that we should hear their stand. There is someone from Chitipa who is ready to assist but we need to sit down and see how best we can assist them.

“The race is still open and I ask all the teams still participating to put up a grand fight so that we get the champion on merit,” explained Nyasulu.

General Secretary for Lufita United, Jairos Mwenechanya, said he was not aware of the chop as he had not yet received an official letter on the same.

“What I know is that we are still in the league. I don’t understand why this rule is applying only to us when other teams did the same but were not kicked out of the league. It appears the rules are being applied selectively,” he said.

But another official from Lufita United who chose not to be named said they were tired with the way NRFA officials were favouring some teams in their management of the league.

“NRFA officials already have a team which they want to crown as champions. You can see the way they handle disputes involving a number of teams against that particular team.

“They are actually following that particular team wherever it goes to play while games involving other teams are never patronised by NRFA officials. Every year they side with a team they want to promote to the super league,” retorted the official.

He added that he was wondering what kind of administrators some of the NRFA officials will make at the Football Association of Malawi as they are seeking positions in the December elections if they are failing to manage the NRFA with diligence and honesty.

The official was actually referring to Chairperson, Lameck Khonje, and General Secretary, Masiya Nyasulu, who have expressed interest to contest at the FAM polls as Second Vice President and Executive Member, respectively.

In the first round, Fish Eagles also pulled out the league.

 

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